Atrahasis is the Mesopotamian survivor in the Atrahasis flood story, often compared with Noah’s Ark.
The Old Babylonian Atrahasis Epic tells how the god Enki warns Atrahasis about a destructive flood and instructs him to build a boat. Atrahasis preserves life aboard the vessel and survives the catastrophe. The story is one of several ancient Near Eastern flood traditions that provide important comparative context for Genesis.
Atrahasis should not be confused with Utnapishtim, the flood survivor in the Epic of Gilgamesh. Utnapishtim’s episode is closely related and incorporates similar Mesopotamian traditions, but the names belong to different literary works. Ziusudra is another flood hero, appearing in the Sumerian flood story.
The Atrahasis Epic is also notable for its account of humanity’s creation and the reasons the gods decide to send the flood. Comparisons with Genesis focus on shared motifs while recognizing substantial differences in characters, theology, plot, and surviving textual forms.